Increased support proposed for foster carers in North Tyneside

North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet is set to consider proposals to offer competitive fostering allowances for foster carers in the borough.

As part of its ambition to provide an outstanding foster care service to children and young people who need it, the Council has refreshed its fostering strategy to reflect the national challenges facing the service.

A report to Cabinet on Monday (28 November) details proposals to support foster carers both financially and through wrap-around services, designed to encourage the recruitment and retention of carers.

The Council current has 83 mainstream foster carers who look after children and young people, with some caring full time and others on a part-time flexible basis including emergency care and short breaks.

If approved, the allowance paid to carers would be increased and an ongoing commitment would be in place to continually increase this allowance in line with future recommendations.

Where possible the Council aim to keep siblings together, but often struggle to find homes who can take in multiple children. Plans could see a £75 additional fee paid to carers who care for a second child, something that wasn’t already in place, and the fee for third and fourth children would also be boosted to £75 each.

Alongside financial support, proposals would see a change to the out of hours support that is in place. The current system would be replaced with more effective support including counselling clinic appointments, outreach support and the introduction of its first pioneering Mockingbird constellation.

Cllr Steven Phillips, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning at North Tyneside Council, said: “Foster carers provide a vital service to children and young people in our borough, and we want to ensure that the support we provide as a local authority not only helps them to provide the best possible levels of care, but that it also reflects the national picture.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, and we see an increase in the number of children who need our care, we hope that by increasing some fees and all age related allowances and refreshing our support that we can continue to maintain, and build, our brilliant community of foster carers.

“We acknowledge that there were improvements to be made in our existing fostering strategy, and if approved these changes would enhance our existing offer.”

North Tyneside Council is recruiting for foster carers to join it’s team. It has a range of flexible roles on offer including full time, short break and emergency care which can be adaptable to a carers availability.

If you have the capacity to welcome a young person into your home and offer care, support, and commitment, get in touch with North Tyneside’s Fostering Team on 0191 643 2540 or email fostering@northtyneside.gov.uk.

If you’d like to find out more about the offer, visit the fostering section of our website.